Obituary: Warren Jerome Luedtke

June 5, 1922 ~ May 2, 2023

On Tuesday, May 2, 2023, Warren Jerome Luedtke died. At the time of his death, he was a resident of the Good Samaritan Society-Scandia Village Memory Care Unit in Sister Bay, Wisconsin.

Warren was born in Racine, Wisconsin on June 5, 1922 to Frank F. and Myrtle Estelle (Jensen) Luedtke. He graduated from William Horlick High School in Racine. Shortly thereafter, on October 7, 1942, Warren enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps at the outset of WWII. He was a B24 pilot during his enlistment. Warren was honorably discharged from service on September 27, 1945.  After the war ended, he enrolled and graduated from The Layton School of Art in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Thereafter, Warren was hired at SC Johnson & Son as an artist in the Art Department. He was promoted to Product Designer, and over the course of his employment, received ten U.S. patents for his product designs.

Through mutual friends, Warren met Helen Adeline Kujellis at a 4th of July celebration in Racine. On April 24, 1943, they were united in marriage in Rome, Georgia. (Warren loved to tell everyone he and Helen were married in Rome.)

Warren was an extremely talented person. He built two kayaks from scratch. Warren designed and built one of the first pop-up tent trailers. He was also interested in archery and crafted archery bows, arrows, etc. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, Warren designed and built a bomb shelter in their backyard. His children and grandchildren fondly remember his bedtime stories about Native Americans that he spun as he related them.

In 1977, Warren retired, and he and Helen moved to their dream retirement home in Fish Creek, Wisconsin, a place they had come to appreciate from vacationing in Door County over the years. He spent the next 45 years of his life doing the things he enjoyed. Warren was an accomplished artist, woodworker, computer guru, and author. He had several books published. Warren was a devoted Christian. He was active in the churches he attended (Grace Lutheran Church in Racine, Bethany Lutheran Church (seasonally) in Ephraim, and then Christ Ev. Lutheran Church in the Town of Liberty Grove) and a daily scripture reader. At 85 years of age, he helped his son construct a home. Warren’s favorite spot was Peninsula State Park, where the family camped. In his retirement, he and Helen enjoyed their daily drives though the park.

Warren and Helen enjoyed 77 years of marriage until her death on April 5, 2021.

He was also preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Bernice (Raymond) Reed, Jane (Nick) Skover, and Frank (Ruth) Luedtke, siblings-in-law, Henry W. (Rose) Kujellis and Robert (Mary) Kujellis; and other relatives.

Warren will be missed by five children, Jimmy (Susan) Luedtke of Racine, Gary (special friend, Jackie Larson) Luedtke of Fish Creek, Tom Luedtke of Annandale, VA, Tam (Terry) Welch of Kapolei, HI, and Sally (Stephen) Baker of Ridgefield, WA.; four grandchildren, Blake (Laura) Luedtke and Alyssa Luedtke, Kathryn Heley Luedtke (Ernest) Derby, and Natalie Welch; four great-grandchildren, Brock, Karsten, Sutton, and Evelee Luedtke; and numerous nephews and nieces.

A private service will be held at West Lawn Memorial Park in the Village of Mount Pleasant (near Racine). Warren will be laid to rest beside his wife, Helen.

“Our family would like to extend a special thank you to our brother, Gary. He spent endless hours with his parents in their declining years. Also, to our sister, Tam, who also spent countless hours with our parents during her many visits to Door County. Also, a thank you to the staff at Scandia Village for their care and attention to our father over the past several years.”

Casperson Funeral Home in Sister Bay is assisting the Luedtke family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Warren may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.caspersonfuneralhome.com.